terribly sorry, officer (baelfiery) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-09-09 08:25:00 |
|
|||
Sixty days. That’s how far in advance one had to make a reservation at Napa Rose, located at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel (and Spa). But Neal did his homework, he’d crossed all his t’s and dotted his i’s and made all the arrangements necessary to ensure that what would be a proposal dinner date went off without a hitch. There was no room for fuck-ups here at one of California’s premier dining destinations - the head in the kitchen was world famous, the restaurant warm-hued and comfortable, and the view over the Adventureland park was pretty sweet too. At the Chef’s Corner was where you could order everything customized by interacting with the actual chef and his staff - prior to the night of the reservation, Neal had sneakily ordered a decadent tiramisu to be brought out for dessert. On top, dusted in cocoa powder, would be the epic question. Will you marry me? spelled out for Emma to see and hopefully say yes to. If she said no, this might be awkward. But at least they would have eaten and had a glass of wine or two by then anyway. Everything was farm-fresh, the menu frequently changed, and Neal didn’t know what half this stuff was (like, what was the difference between Sonoma mushrooms and regular mushrooms?) but any place that boasted the ‘Best Hot Chocolate Ever’ as an option had to be good. The chef had recommended an appetizer of lobster tempura salad, and everything kind of just melted in Neal’s mouth - he was looking over the dinner menu now, trying to make a decision. “This is nice,” he spoke up, a vast understatement. He was afraid he was sweating through the shirt that he’d bought new, a dress shirt, free of baby vomit. “What are you thinking of getting?” He was fine. Everything was fine. He had the ring, a French antique design featuring two swans on the sides, holding up a diamond in the center. There were no dead bodies dropping on their table. Garrus wouldn’t jinx him, nope. Not at all. Getting out, like adults was exceptionally nice. She was only moderately angsty about leaving Niko at home for the night, but it wasn’t like she didn’t know he’d be fine and they needed to get out and start getting back to normal life again. Just the act of getting her hair done, some make-up and a nice dress on, it felt so much like a lifetime ago. “It’s so fancy,” like really fancy, when the chef suggested lobster to start she was pretty sure everything was just as decadent. “I mean, I’m liking the chicken, but… I’m thinking maybe the chef knows best.” She was so far very impressed with the first big night out since Niko was born, definitely loving Neal’s choice of date, since they both likely would’ve fallen asleep if there wasn’t so much around to keep their attention. “This place is gorgeous,” and it wasn’t like she expected a burger place or anything, Neal always managed to surprise her, but she she really would’ve been fine with it too. “You just keep outdoing yourself.” Neal was actually angsty about leaving Niko too - no doubt he’d be brought up a million times, along with all the adorable things he’d done recently even if that just included sneezing - but Killian and Regina were at the house, everything would be alright. Henry had gone to a movie with friends, since the thought of being babysat didn’t jive with him - even if that’s not what it was. Moody teenagers. What a time to be alive. “It’s free-range chicken, so you know it has to be good,” he cracked a grin. Why was he so nervous? Besides that this night was slated to be life-changing, no big deal. Something was going to go wrong though - he didn’t live in the OC for this long without a finely-tuned ‘doom’ detector. No sense in working himself up over it now, however. A chat with the chef yielded an order of steak being placed - give him the beef - with one of the sides swapped out, sauteed green beans rather than turnips. Thank fuck. “I just wanted our first night out in awhile to be special,” Neal said, stretching to reach Emma’s hands. “You must be going nuts still on leave from work.” It was prime bonding time with the baby, yeah, but caregiving at home caused a strong desire for adult interaction. At least Niko was old enough to be taken out for a little while - fresh air was important too. “How are you feeling though, you want to take the full twelve weeks of leave? Or are you already jonesing to go back?” He was such a damn sweetheart, Emma just smiled softly as she clasped her hand on his, giving him that dopey look, “You’re such a romantic, it’s so adorable.” But it was super sweet, giving her those silly little flutters in her tummy. “It’s super special, but I’m really just glad to have you all to myself for a few hours, no Henry with questions, or Niko needing a feeding, or any number of people in and out.” It was important, right? Keeping the magic alive with time together with little ones in the mix. She was still of two minds about work though, especially considering Niko, “I don’t know yet, you know that way I get a few hours through a day, and he’s being fussy or it’s just me and him and… I’m just craving an adult, someone to talk to, anything to help with the overwhelming baby of it all.” Like when there were still washings to do, and Niko was crying because he had wind, or was hungry, or had pooped, or just didn’t want to settle. She missed adults and not being in the house, or the back garden, or out at the park, she missed conversations about stuff that was happening around the world or even just down at the market. She missed wearing one outfit all day and not getting spit on her shirt. “But then he does something adorable, like gargle or sneeze or just yawn and I’m besotted all over again and I can’t imagine ever leaving him.” Even if she knew it would be better in the long run to wean herself off it all sooner rather than later, she still didn’t want to miss anything. “It’s like constantly swinging back and forth.” Hormones probably played a part in that whole ‘swinging’ idea too, but fair enough, Neal would go with it. They could ease Emma back to a semblance of the former schedule - it would probably help knowing that they had an arrangement in place for Niko, during the morning and afternoon, so they wouldn’t worry so much. “I can look into setting up a daycare facility at the ranch?” he suggested, taking a sip from his wine glass - a little didn’t hurt, while breastfeeding (which was...more of a worry for Emma, obviously) and they deserved a vintage red by this point. You couldn’t have a fancy meal without wine - it was damn unheard of. “That way he’ll be there with us too in case anything happens. But you can go back to work and have the best of both worlds, pretty much.” It was a place that housed kids of all ages, but the keyword was kids - not many babies around at all, so some arrangements would have to be made. Having been t-total for almost nine full months and change, Emma wasn’t turning down an occasional drink, she was still minding her caffeine intake just now, and definitely not going to over do it with the wine, but one or two glasses wouldn’t hurt much. “Is that special treatment though?” Not that Emma would mind at all. She was nursing just now, yes, but they’d gradually work off that the more Niko needed stronger milk, and eventually bottle only. By the time she was through the twelve week leave, she was more than sure they’d be onto the mix. Their little boy was a chubby little tubs. “I mean, it could be a good expansion though, a daycare facility. Not just because you’ve got a tubby little boy yourself but… Well, what about teen moms that were like us the first time around?” Maybe, in different circumstances, she’d have kept Henry if she knew there was a way to make it through things and still give him the best she could. Still get an education, or learn skills, have a support system. “I mean, the ranch is kind of for at risk youth, right?” And then maybe Emma wouldn’t feel like she was taking too much advantage, even though she really wanted to. “Oh, that’s - “ Neal blinked a few times, surprised. Mostly because he hadn’t even thought of that, and why the hell hadn’t he? Maybe because he’d been working hard to take over from where Scott left off, running the ranch and making sure it didn’t nosedive in his absence - Neal did his best to handle everything, from the more administrative things to the tasks that meant literally digging in the dirt; nothing like this had ever occurred to him. “That’s a really good idea.” It probably just took an outside perspective with fresh ideas - one of those types of things that pointed out what should have been obvious. Their food arrived then, but stuffing his face could wait a second. “We can work on that - I think, at the ranch, we’re definitely ready for expansion though. I mean, it’s successful, I’ve been running it for like a year, so - yeah, I think it’s time we restructure the mission statement?” Mostly, they housed kids who had done a stint or two in juvie - kids with parole officers, and time on the ranch was a heavy part of their rehabilitation. But teen moms, they also deserved a chance to turn their lives around and get back up on their feet again. “I can help,” the food smelled as delicious as it looked, Emma’s mouth already watering at the prospect of the fabulous meal and the special night, “You’re already running absolutely everything that goes on, it’s time I stopped shying away from involvement with people.” Although those precious animals were her other babies and her sweet creatures, but she could take more hands on roles with the Ranch to help out. She wasn’t just as wary about kids now, Henry being in their lives helped to calm her nerves for just how she could possibly go wrong there, and Niko just added to that. Call it maternal instincts rising, but in the last year Emma was starting to realise that she could do these things, she wasn’t going to ruin anything with a mistake or do the wrong thing. “We can always reach out to Mary Margaret too, information and availability for people through the shelter and channels there.” It would probably take some doing to set up, but Emma definitely felt like they could manage the challenge there, and help people in the process. Which was the point of it all, right? When Emma first came on board at the ranch, she was definitely skittish around the younger crowd - Neal didn’t blame her though, he knew she’d come around. And she did, hell, they’d sort of come around together. Now look at them - they had their two sons with them, a whole dysfunctional family to call their own, and Neal also had a ring that was burning a hole in his pocket. Patience, Cassidy. “I’m sure Mary Margaret would love to help - she loves spending time with you anyway,” he said. It was true - Snow White, in this world, seemed to have a tendency to want to look after Emma like she was her own daughter. Even if that wasn’t necessarily the case. He cut into his steak, in all of its juicy and tender glory - stellar decision coming here. Stellar everything with points going to Napa Rose. “It’ll be great, Em. And Niko will be with us too, we won’t have to worry about what could possibly be going wrong elsewhere.” They’d probably still worry. Just a lot less? “She’s met Niko, hasn’t she?” he asked then, referring to Emma’s dream mother. “Mary Margaret, I mean. It’s been a blur and I can barely remember who all stopped by and who hasn’t.” That would probably be a bonus, Emma not fretting and wanting to call whoever was watching him every ten minutes to check in. She understood that people got used to that separation, and she’d adapt, but the less distance and the more time she could check in the better. “It will be,” and she just managed to not say that around a mouthful of food, remembering to finish before talking and not just shove more in, but God, Neal had good date instincts. “And it’ll let you spend more time with him too, not having to be away all day.” She wasn’t sure if she’d have managed that like Neal was right now. The baby snuggles were just one of the best parts of her day. “She came by the hospital and has been coming around to afford some adult company while you’re at work.” At least Emma wasn’t talking only to a baby that didn’t understand her that way. “I think Niko makes her wonder about the dream life a little,” since they had Emma’s little brother there, just not so much here. “But it’s just so nice, right? How great everyone has been.” Pretty much from the start to finish, everyone had been amazing. It really was difficult, being away from Nikolas when work was necessary - but Neal loved running the ranch too, so it helped that he felt like his work was fulfilling and important. Made that separation a little easier to take (much better than if he was rotting away in a cubicle or something, ugh). His fill of baby snuggles and changing poopy diapers came when he returned home - and you know what, he adored every damn second of it. Even the smelliest seconds. “She must miss David?” Neal guessed, since Mary Margaret and her Prince always seemed to go together. Snow White and Charming, those two wacky kids, probably would have even been voted high school king and queen or whatever. “I know she’s kinda far behind on the dreams too. Hopefully she hasn’t gotten to the Underworld stuff yet.” They all kind of had spoilers, but it was one huge clusterfuck. If Emma never dreamed it, he’d be happy - but he knew that was too much to ask. All that shit would be along soon enough. “Everyone really has been great though. The godparents especially.” “Yeah, I’m pretty sure she does,” which Emma could understand, sometimes she felt herself missing him being around too, even with Neal and Killian there, David had been a big part in Henry’s life since the curse break, especially while Emma and Mary Margaret had been wandering through the Fairytale Land. “But she’s doing okay.” The trick was to keep busy, Mary Margaret seemed to keep herself fairly busy. They could all hope that maybe the dreams would halt, or slow, or just not bother them for a while. Emma been getting some respite for them through her power napping phase of pregnancy and she was fairly certain that she just needed to sleep long enough without being utterly exhausted for those to come back, but she was in absolutely no rush, since she’d gotten the spoilers. Her hormones probably couldn’t take that nonsense just yet. “Godparents practising is more like it.” Since she’d started to come around to the whole Zelena’s baby thing. The way Regina was with Henry and Niko, it was pretty much a given that she would be a great mom for her niece. “Since we might have another baby in the family soon.” Killian had said they were holding off on telling too many people, but Neal knew, Emma knew that much, and Emma was almost bursting to talk to someone else about it. “Oh, yeah, definitely practicing,” Neal snickered, and he was thrilled for Regina and her pirate paramour - not something he’d ever expect, especially given their rather volatile interactions in the dreamspace, but they were both passionate people. Kind of well-suited for each other in that regard. He grinned over the edge of his wine glass - you could tell that he too was wanting to talk to someone about it, and he knew that Killian already told Emma. Probably during one of his visits to get some of his own baby snuggles in. Such a dastardly scourer of the seas he was and all. “I’m glad for them, you know?” he said. “And I don’t mind having another baby in the family - I’ve always wanted a big family, to make up for not having anyone before. If it works out but I just have this feeling. It’s gonna work out.” Thinking of Zelena sort of put a bitter taste in his mouth, but Neal wouldn’t consider it in those terms. He’d just think of what joy a baby would bring to the family and how much fun the holidays would be. Greenie and her psychotic self could stay the fuck out of it. “Maybe we should think about planning a shower or something? Just in case?” The new parents would need supplies, especially if it turned out they went and brought the little girl home in a short amount of time. Emma’s biggest concern was Regina and Killian getting some semblance of happiness for themselves, they’d been so supportive in both this reality and in the dreams, and Regina was due a break, she really was. If raising Zelena’s baby was part of that, Emma was fully supportive of the addition to their makeshift little family. Henry would probably be ecstatic about a baby brother and the equivalent of a baby sister too. “Me too, I really hope so, for everyone’s sakes.” Emma didn’t know if Zelena was just as damaged here, but she found it impossible to forgive or feel for the woman. Orange County might be an insane place most of the time, but it was their insane place, and they could definitely make it a good home. “Oh, that’s a great idea.” At least Regina wouldn’t be as big as a house too, they could do a little more with that than just a house party sort of gathering. And it could take some of the added suddenness of Regina and Killian’s shoulders. They’d have a tiny little baby to worry about, they shouldn’t need to think about the supplies of it all too. “We could take care of all the immediate things they’d need, I think we’re getting good at baby stuff shopping after all.” And it’d be for a little girl! Which, okay it wasn’t that much different from a little boy, but there were little frilly socks and Emma was still hormonal and they were so cute she could make noises only dogs heard. “Let’s do it, then,” Neal decided. “We’ll stock up the nursery - I think they’ve cleared out one of Regina’s spare workrooms, also as a just in case - with the essentials while they’re gone, on the trip to pick up the new addition.” It’d be something nice to come back to, and then a bigger party with more of their friends could be thrown - and no, it didn’t necessarily have to be at the house either. Maybe they could rent out a place for a day, just something nice in celebration of new life and a new season (since it’d be autumn by then, or at least, the weather would be hinting at the idea). Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the waiter in his tux looking like he was about to bring over dessert. Which meant - hell, it was go time. “There’s also something else I wanted to talk to you about too...” Sure enough, dinner plates were cleared, water glasses refilled, everything rolling onto what would be the next course. Something sweet. Something that looked to be an elegant cake, decorated in soft pinks and with edible roses and equally edible gold dust. With I’m pregnant scrolled in cursive on the top. Once that monstrosity was set down, give him a minute - he’d realize that his proposal just got screwed. Emma wasn’t really expecting too much of a serious discussion about anything. They’d covered the major news of Regina and Killian’s impending parenthood, and she could definitely get on board stocking up their nursery as a surprise, so she was just expecting something else of the sorts maybe. Taking a sip from her newly filled water, Emma was just watching Neal, a little unsure of the odd nervousness. She really hoped this wasn’t about Henry and his driving/shooting experience and wanting some kind of repeat or lessons in crossbow use. She could handle the occasional request for sword fighting lessons from his dad or Killian but crossbow firing she was going to need to draw the line at. “If Henry has found a new animal to adopt, the answer is no, Neal. We cannot keep letting him bring home pets.” Between Mystique and Hawkeye, and Regina acquiring Tigra, they were going to have enough to start their own Avengers soon. Of course then dessert was served, which she assumed he’d pre-planned because she hadn’t ordered and… “Um… Neal?” “That’s the wrong cake,” Neal moaned in utter despair, palm-meet-face. He wasn’t freaking out though, he wasn’t - maybe a little. “They delivered...that’s...it’s...” Maybe the waiter took note of how one of the restaurant patrons was suddenly hyperventilating, because he scurried over with a concerned look on his face and inquired if everything was alright. No, everything was not alright! “I ordered the tiramisu - should be under Neal?” he prompted, which caused the look of horror and ‘we done fucked up’ to dawn across the waiter’s face. Right about the same time the man who was supposed to get a revelation from his wife via baked goods started grumbling and the clearly hormonal woman began crying. It was a hot mess, basically. However, the blunder was fixed quickly - cake swapped out for tiramisu with the will you marry me? clearly visible, and Neal reached into his pocket to retrieve the ring box and slide it across the table to Emma. With a sheepish-yet-hopeful smile. “Not how I expected it to go, but that’s pretty much our lives. I was trying to be creative, in asking if you wanted to marry a dork like me.” The mild case of confusion was only heightened for a little while, especially with freaking out hormonal ladies freaking out and Neal apparently having a mild freak out himself and-- oh, tiramisu, that looked very yummy, complete with a not-pregnancy announcement. Emma had to laugh, even as she pried open the ring box to be hit with one of the most gorgeous rings she’d ever seen (swans, he was such an adorable little dork), but that laugh turned a little more choked as she ran her finger over the top of the ring before picking it out. “You are a dork, you know.” Because when did anything ever actually go to plan in their lives? “But you’re my dork, and of course I will marry you.” Even if they hadn’t already talked about it, about the maybe and someday. Apparently Neal had ideas for someday being sooner rather than later. She was stupidly tearing up too, even with the grin on her face while she slipped the perfectly fitting ring onto her finger. The swans, yeah, Neal couldn’t help those. He’d given Henry the swan necklace, a totem of True Love, when he first met the kid back at the winter carnival in Boston - and as far as he knew, Henry still had it. But it was kind of poetic that the relic was now with him, since it had been such an important aspect of his parents lives in the dreams. The engagement ring was a dedication to that convenience store keychain, which came to mean so much over the course of many years. “Always your dork,” Neal laughed, leaning across the table to plant a kiss on Emma. His eyes were shiny, he was happy - and he felt like, with two sons and a rapidly expanding family, that marriage was the next logical step. That they were both at a point in their lives where they could tackle that, and it was something they wanted to just complete the whole picture. Admiring the ring on her finger, he took her hand and held it in his own. “No rush on planning either - and anything you want to have for the actual day, you’ll have,” he promised. It had taken Emma a long time to think she’d get to this point. Between her parents death, meeting Neal and then having and losing Henry, the journey to get to Orange County itself. She hadn’t really considered marriage for a long time, and that had only recently really started to change. Two kids, a house and some dogs, it felt like yes, marriage was their logical step. Since they didn’t really do things in the proper order anyway. Her hand in his, with the ring glittering nicely on her finger, the smile impossible to wipe off her face right then, “We’ll figure that one out as we go,” because really, Emma didn’t know what she wanted in regards to a wedding, she could pick Regina’s brain once they announced things and see what times and dates and places looked good, “what we both want to do.” The prospect of it all made her a little giddy too. “I love you, you dork. Even if we were pregnant for five seconds there.” Because that would’ve been one hell of an accomplishment. “I love you too,” Neal chuckled, thumb rubbing over Emma’s knuckles. Eventually he would let go and they’d celebrate by hoovering delicious tiramisu but for now he was content to bask in the glow of the moment. Which was not a ‘knocked up’ glow, thanks. “Right? Imagine if I really was pregnant. Miracle of modern science.” No thanks, he’d pass on that. But he was glad it had worked out. Glad that she said yes. Whatever they decided, it’d be a beautiful wedding - with maybe just a touch of that certain fairytale magic as well. |